This page uses the standard formula, 468 / f MHz to calculate dipole lengths. You may change this number if you know of a better number to use as your starting point.
Enter the formula for the antenna calculation

Divided by
Freq MHz

Percent smaller for the Inverted Vee

Scroll down for an automatic calculation
Your dipole's total length is feet
Each leg of the dipole is feet
Your Inverted Vee's total length is feet
Each leg of the Inverted Vee is feet

For a metric version please see:
http://www.radiobrandy.com/dipole1.html
or
http://wb5mrn.com/ham/antenna.htm
INTRODUCTION-The longwire antenna is a very effective antenna for the listener who wants
to cover all of the shortwave bands from 530 KHZ to 30 MHz. However if you have some
favourite frequencies that you listen to on a regular basis you may wish to consider a dipole
antenna. This antenna is a fairly easy to construct antenna and will give you better reception on
the frequency it is cut for. Think of a dipole as a longwire that has a insulator in the middle.

FREQUENCY-A dipole antenna will not only work well on the frequency it is cut for, but also
for the multiples of that frequency. For example if you cut a dipole for 7.0 MHz will also
work not badly on 14 MHz, 21 MHz and 28 MHz. A dipole will work well on frequencies that are an
ODD multiple of 1/2
wavelength frequency the antenna is cut for.
For example, if the dipole is cut for 7.0 MHz it will work well on 21 MHz.
This way if you can pick and choose your frequency
you can make one antenna work on two or three bands.

CONSTRUCTION- Once you have selected a frequency and calculated the length of wire you
need add two feet to this length. This is done so you will have six (6) inches of wire at each end to
wrap around the insulators. Once you have this extended length of wire cut it in half. This will
give you both sides of the dipole.

Attach an end insulator to one end of each piece of wire. You can use the egg shaped
insulators sold by many radio supply stores.

Or make your own out of a piece of plastic. This can
be done by cutting a piece of heavy plastic or plexi-glass to a size of about six (6) inches in
length and about 2-3 inches wide.
Drill a small hole one to one and a half inches from each end of the plastic to wrap the wire
around. It is best to solder these connections and wrap them in a sealant tape to keep the effects
of the weather from harming them.

The other free ends are attached to a centre connector which you can buy with a built in coaxial
cable connecter, or make your own. This will look similar to the end connectors but you will
have to find a way to secure the coax lead wire to the insulator.

If you build your own when you
attach the coax to the ends of the wires, insure that you solder and wrap the connections. One
wire will go to the centre of the coax, while the other wire will go to the shielded braid of the
coax. This will give you a perfect half wave dipole. You should also wrap the coax fitting of the
commercially available centre insulator to keep water and other moisture out. Moisture will ruin
the connections on any type of insulator and make the antenna less effective or at worst
useless.

MULTI-BAND DIPOLES- As was stated above you can use the dipole on the harmonics or
multiples of the frequency it is cut for. However if you are short on space you can build a
multi-band dipole. This way you will get an antenna that will operate on several frequencies.
Instead of using a single strand of wire you can use wire that has several insulated wires in it.
These MUST be insulated wires to insure that they do not touch each other. You then cut the top
wire to be the longest, the second wire to be the second longest, the third wire to be the third
longest etc.. The longest wire is attached to the end insulators to your
supports (masts) and all wires are fed to the
centre insulator to attach to the coax feed line.
Each shorter antenna is attached back to the longer one above it using an
insulator at the end of the wire. This is hung off the antenna above using a
non conductive material (rope) or short piece of wire.

INSTALLATION- Once you have the antenna cut all you have to do in put it between two
masts. Make sure that you use the free side of the end insulators to attach some rope. Tie this
rope from the end insulators to the masts. Leave some slack on the antenna. If you pull too tight
the antenna will break in the wind or if snow and or ice should coat the antenna. KEEP AWAY
FROM OVERHEAD WIRES!! Keep away from these as should the antenna ever come into
contact with an overhead wire you will do permanent damage to your radio if not yourself. All
you have to do is feed the coax to your radio and listen to the stations come in. It would be best
to install a lightening arrester in the coax feed line to help protect your receiver. These are
available from many radio supply stores. Follow the instructions carefully! In areas where thunder
storms or snow storms are common a lightening arrester is a must for safety.
Also If you are attaching one end to a tree make sure that you use a heavy
spring on that end to compensate for the movement of the tree in a wind.
TIP
I should also mention that I use a good silicone seal on all my connections.
3M makes a very good clear calk, spreads nicely, and really seals out the moisture.
No moisture, no corrosion.
I have taken down antennas that have been up 5 years before a storm got them, and the connections
were just as new and shiny as the day I put them up.
Everything else was weathered, but not my connections.
Just thought I would pass it on for trouble free connections.
I see a lot of my friends wrap their connections in tape. That's ok for a while, but that tape will weather,
and come apart when you don`t want it too.
Now you have a bare connection. Wrap that tape in clear silicone, it will last forever.
KC0VEA
VARIATIONS - You can install them flat in a horizontal mode. This is the norm.
A normal flat horizontal dipole hears off the sides NOT the ends of the
antenna.
A Sloper which is at an angle they will be more directional the direction
that they are sloped.
Full sloper

Half sloper

You can also install them as an inverted V shape. This dipole has a higher
center with lower ends to save on space in smaller back yards.

All three versions work well.
If you want to hear East West the dipole ends are North South
FURTHER INFORMATION- If you want more information on dipole antennas and for that
matter all types of shortwave antennas look for these books:

Easy-up Antennas for Radio Listeners and Hams by Edward M. Noll

Joe Carr's Receiving Antenna Handbook by Joe Carr

The Easy Wire Antenna Handbook by Dave Ingram

Practical Wire Antennas by J. Heys

These books are orientated towards the Shortwave Listener more so than the Ham operator. The
first two above are probably the best for the beginner and the more advanced, but not technically
minded. They put forward a lot of information in a manner everyone can understand. Ed Noll's
Easy-up Antennas for Radio Listeners and Hams even comes with tables giving you
pre-calculated lengths for many types of antennas. There is lots of tips on making antenna
construction simple but effective. It does not come any easier than this.